UFC fighters who have fought in multiple weight classes

In other combat sports like boxing, jumping between weight classes is quite common especially for lighter fighters. When compared to MMA though, boxing has way more weight classes, usually every 5 pounds or so, so it’s usually not that big of a jump.

In MMA however, the difference between weight classes can be quite dramatic, going anywhere from 10lbs to 15 or 20 lbs like the huge gap from middleweight (185) to light heavyweight (205). That’s why when you see fighters jump between weight classes in the UFC, it is a little more impressive of a feat compared to other combat sports.

In this video, we see some of the top fighters who have done just that – fought in multiple weight classes, and those who have done so successfully are usually among the top of the pound for pound rankings.

Current UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor is perhaps the most well known example of this in the UFC, especially as of late. He made history when he defeated Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205, making him the first ever UFC fighter to simultaneously hold two titles in two different weight classes.

He was later stripped of the featherweight belt but that still does not take away what he accomplished. He even fought as high as 170 lbs for his two exciting bouts against Nate Diaz, where he lost the first bout but won the rematch. Nate Diaz is also another example of weight class jumping as he fought at both 155 and 170.

Nate’s older brother, Nick, has also fought in multiple classes throughout his career. He’s fought primarily at 170 but has fought at 185 as well as 160 in Pride.

BJ Penn is another guy who’s fought at many different weight classes throughout his storied career. Most of his success was at 155 and 170 back in the day but he’s even fought as high as heavyweight against Lyoto Machida. Now in the twilight of his career, Penn finds himself fighting at 145 but has yet to win a fight at this weight. He hopes to turn his luck around against Dennis Siver in June at UFC Fight Night 112.

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